ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After the rookies had their minicamp earlier this month, it was time for the Buffalo Bills vets to join them on the field as the team started OTAs (organized team activities) this week.
With most of the team together practicing for the first time, head coach Sean McDermott compared the feeling to that of the first day back in class from summer break.
“The new faces, getting those players up to speed,” McDermott said. "There’s kind of a new excitement around, new energy. Having to tell players how to get to the cafeteria, where the team meeting room is. Some of it is first day of school type stuff."
The amount of new faces on the Bills is more than usual this year after the offseason departures of several key veterans, including Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse, and Tre'Davious White.
“It’s an adjustment, but change is good,” said Bills safety Damar Hamlin. “You know I’ve been a firm believer my whole life. Change is good, so we’re just rolling with it.”
The player you heard there while Hamlin was speaking was rookie receiver Keon Coleman, one of the several new players on the Bills offense.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen spoke about his excitement to continue the process of developing chemistry with Coleman and the rest of the additions to the Bills roster.
“Bringing along some of the younger guys and getting to know new guys,” Allen said. “This is a time in the offseason you get to know guys on a deeper level and get to know where they come from and what makes them tick, so that’s always a fun experience.”
We saw Allen throwing plenty of passes to the likes of Coleman, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and his main returning receiver in Khalil Shakir.
We’ll continue to see them and the rest of the team in action as OTAs continue through the first week of June.